PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Calogero Anello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandre Nieto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nieto has chosen Bullet the Blue Sky as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Anello
vs
Nieto

178 cm
21
168 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
21
162 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Calogero Anello!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexandre Nieto!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anello gets caught flat footed, as Nieto shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nieto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nieto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nieto looking to sit in guard and control but Anello gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nieto looking to control.
Nieto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nieto wants to control the position but Anello says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anello stands up and beckons Nieto to join him on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Anello.
Anello turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Anello misses with a left hand
and Anello takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Anello is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nieto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Anello scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A shot to the body from Nieto misses
enabling Anello to counter with a crisp jab.
Anello gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Nieto counter with a right hand.
Calogero Anello seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anello looks for the body kick but Nieto saw that one coming.
Anello swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nieto.
Anello misses with the body kick

and Nieto counters with a single leg into guard. Anello didn't expect that.
Anello working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nieto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieto looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nieto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Nieto drops back, looking for a kneebar! Anello looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Anello looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Anello!
Nieto is letting Anello control him for a moment.
Nieto is looking for a sweep.
Nieto sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
It looks like Anello is going to stand back up.
Nieto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Anello is working away from the top position though.
It looks like Anello is going to stand back up.
Anello prevents Nieto from improving his position.
Anello controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexandre Nieto will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nieto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Nieto shoots in and gets a takedown into Anello's guard.
Nieto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nieto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Anello dives on top into guard.

Nieto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anello is looking to stand up but Nieto won't let him.

Anello stands and steps away. Nieto gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A good leg kick by Anello.
Anello throws a leg kick
and Nieto counters with a right hand to the body.
Anello misses with a right hand

and Nieto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Anello's guard.
Nieto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anello works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anello decides to stand back up. Anello steps back and let's Nieto get back to his feet.
Anello misses with a shot to the body
and Nieto counters with a leg kick.
Anello goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Anello lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nieto has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nieto and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Calogero Anello is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nieto throws a sloppy body shot
and Anello counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieto shoots in looking for a takedown. Anello tries to sprawl out of it but Nieto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Anello manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nieto shoots and misses
and Anello counters with a nice body kick.
Calogero Anello has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandre Nieto.
Anello throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Nieto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nieto is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Anello to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Anello keeping moving, preventing Nieto from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anello is trying to control the position but Nieto postures up.
Nieto trying to control but Anello is working from the bottom.
Nieto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Anello working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nieto.
Anello is trying to control the position from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Anello wants to stand up but Nieto is controlling him.
Nieto sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Anello's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandre Nieto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Anello misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nieto lands with a shot to the body.
Anello misses with a lunging right hand

and Nieto counters with a single leg into guard. Anello didn't expect that.
Anello is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Alexandre Nieto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Anello can't keep his opponent in guard - Nieto advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Anello taking some punishment here, with Nieto in his half guard.
Anello wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anello is trying to stand back up but Nieto is controlling him
Nieto looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Nieto is looking for submissions but instead, Anello has regained full guard.

Nieto drops back, looking for a kneebar! Anello looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Anello looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Anello!
Nieto is looking to reverse the position.
Nieto can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieto tries to bench press Anello off him but Anello keeps the position.
Nieto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieto struggling a bit here.
Anello is looking to take a break and control but Nieto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nieto tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Anello wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Anello decides to stand back up. Anello steps back and let's Nieto get back to his feet.
Anello tries to score with a low kick but Nieto moves his leg out of the way.
Anello lands a jab to Nieto's midsection.
Anello scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Anello fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nieto has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Anello misses with a leg kick

and Nieto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandre Nieto really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nieto misses with a takedown
and Anello connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Anello misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Anello thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Anello misses

and Nieto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nieto.
Nieto is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Anello wants to stand but Nieto is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anello has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Nieto off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Anello misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Anello throws a poor cross that misses

and Nieto counters with a nice double leg into side control. Anello won't be happy with that.
Nieto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anello keeps working.

Nieto goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Anello has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Nieto but great work by Anello.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieto struggling a bit here.
Nieto manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Anello is keen to just control but Nieto is a slippery customer.
Nieto is looking to control Anello's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nieto avoid being mounted?
Nieto wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieto is trying to control but can't.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Anello tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Nieto.

Nieto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nieto is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Anello is thwarting Nieto's attempts to control the position.
Anello tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Nieto.
Nieto tries to roll over but Anello keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandre Nieto dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Anello's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Nieto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Anello misses with a leg kick

and Nieto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Anello's guard.
Nieto content to stall in guard here.
Nieto thows a big elbow that misses.
Nieto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anello swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anello wants to stand up but Nieto is controlling him.
Nieto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anello is keeping the position for now.
Nieto won't allow Anello to get back to his feet.
Nieto trying to control but Anello is working from the bottom.
Anello wants to stand up but Nieto is controlling him.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nieto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Calogero Anello has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A lazy body kick from Anello
and Nieto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Anello throws a sloppy body shot

and Nieto counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Anello's guard now.
Nieto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nieto trying to control the position from guard on top but Anello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nieto tries to free his leg and advance position but Anello is retaining full guard.
Nieto trying to control but Anello is working from the bottom.

Nieto drops back looking for a leg! Anello is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Anello manages to kick Nieto off! Nieto jumps back into Anello's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anello working a defensive guard here.
Nieto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nieto trying to control the position from guard on top but Anello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nieto sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Anello's guard.
Alexandre Nieto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Anello is looking to improve his position.
Nieto wants to control but Anello is keeping him busy.
Nieto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nieto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nieto is taking a breather. Anello says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nieto's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alexandre Nieto hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nieto.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexandre Nieto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nieto winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 46:49
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 45:50
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexandre Nieto! Alexandre Nieto retains his lightweight title!